Sermon on the Mount 25 1

The Sermon on the Mount

"Asking, Seeking and Knocking"
(Matthew 7:7-11)

INTRODUCTION:
I.

One of the most popular theological teachings today especially among

Charismatic circles is what is more commonly known as the Prosperity
Gospel, or as it is sometimes called the Health and Wealth Gospel.
A.

The proponents of the Prosperity Gospel believe that God wants

Christians to be "abundantly" successful in every way especially in
the area of financial prosperity.
1.

Those who promote this particular belief not only point to the
way God blessed and prospered the lives of many Biblical
characters, but also offer several Old and New Testament
passages of Scripture in support of their beliefs.
a.

Deuteronomy 8:18 "And you shall remember the Lord

your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish His covenant which He swore to
your fathers, as it is this day."

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b.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think

toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of
evil, to give you a future and a hope."

c.

Malachi 3:10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in
this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the
windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing
that there will not be room enough to receive it."

d.

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal,

and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may
have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

e.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work

together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose."

f.

3 John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all

things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."

2.

Two of the most popular verses promoting this philosophy of the

Prosperity Gospel are both taken from the Gospels one from
Matthew and the other found in Luke.
a.

Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek,

and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8

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For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds,

and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man
is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give
him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a
serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father who is in heaven give good things to those who
ask Him!"
b.

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good

measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running
over will be put into your bosom. For with the same
measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

3.

Those who oppose the precepts of the Prosperity Gospel, which

includes myself, contend that these passages have not only
been taken out of their proper context, but have been grossly
misapplied and misinterpreted to serve the selfish, selfcentered, materialistic goals of those who promote this
philosophy among believers today.

4.

Among those who preach this Prosperity Gospel are false

teachers like:

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a.

Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, T.D. Jakes,

Robert Tilton, Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, Rod Parsley and
a whole host of others who are proponents of the neoPentecostal and neo-Charismatic movements in America
today.

B.

In fact, the Prosperity Gospel can trace its roots back to the
metaphysical religious beliefs concerning the powers that come from
positive thinking a philosophy that first began to be advocated in the
1800s by the American psychologist/philosopher William James, the
father of PRAGMATISM, and by other American and European
philosophers.
1.

James contended in his famous lecture "The Will To Believe,"

that BELIEVING something strongly enough will eventually
bring about the EVIDENCE to support that belief.
a.

2.

I think we would call this BLIND faith!

Over time, this philosophy was further modified to say there is

immense power in belief, and that whatever we can belief we
can achieve a saying that is popular among many Positive
Thinking followers.

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a.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Neoplian Hill, and virtually

every success and motivational writer and speaker today
holds to this philosophy.

b.

In religious circles, this philosophy is perhaps best

championed by Dr. Robert Schuller of the famed Crystal
Cathedral and his son Dr. Robert Schuller Jr. (Schuller Sr.
was a student of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale).

3.

However, today, this philosophy has found WIDE acceptance

among Charismatic and neo-Pentecostal groups who content
that FAITH in the promises of God to be a blessing to His
people will bring about health and healing, as well as wealth
and prosperity.
a.

Basically, the doctrine teaches that if you BELIEVE God

will bring health and healing to your life, or if you BELIEVE
God will bring wealth and prosperity into your life, then
God WILL do all those things but only for those who
TRULY BELIEVE!

b.

And as PROOF of your belief you must first GIVE to the

ministries and false teachers promoting the Prosperity
Gospel.

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c.

The devastating impact of this heresy is that many DO

believe God will bring health and healing, and wealth and
prosperity, and have spent a lifetime giving hard-earned
cash to these so-called Health and Wealth ministries.

d.

But when health and wealth DOESNT come, these poor

souls often turn away from believing in God and Jesus
Christ altogether.

II.

In our study this morning, as we continue looking at the teachings of Jesus

found in The Sermon on the Mount, we want to attempt to understand one
of the key passages often used by those promoting the Health and Wealth
Prosperity Gospel heresy.
A.

We want to understand what Jesus REALLY meant about ASKING,

SEEKING and KNOCKING.
1.

Hopefully, we will not only clarify the teaching of Jesus in

Matthew chapter 7, verses 7-11, but we will also come away
with an even greater appreciation for prayer in the life of every
Christian.

B.

So, lets begin by taking another look at the verses in question:

1.

Matthew 7:7-11 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and

you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For

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everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to

him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there
among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you
then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good
things to those who ask Him!"

BODY:
I.

Throughout The Sermon on the Mount Jesus has been introducing His
disciples to the GOSPEL of the KINGDOM.
A.

These are the divine principles the timeless, eternal principles

God has always intended for His people to live by.
1.

These principles are DIVINE, because they COME FROM God

deal with our relationship with God and our relationship with one
another.

2.

And they are time TIMELESS and ETERNAL because they are
not just for those who heard Jesus speak over two-thousand
years ago they are principles of righteous conduct and living
for all men everywhere, regardless of what period of time, or
dispensation, they live in including US TODAY!

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B.

In THIS section of our studies in The Sermon on the Mount we have

been looking at principles concerning our relationship with one
another.
1.

Last week we took a close look at the teachings of Jesus

regarding our need to avoid judging one another.
a.

If you remember, Jesus specifically condemned TWO

types of judging in Matthew 7:1-6:
(1).

Judgment based on double-standards one

standard for YOU and another for ME.

(2).

Judgment that is blind to our own faults the kind of

judgment where we can see sins in the lives of
others, but are blinded to sin in our own lives.

C.

As we move into the next several verses Matthew 7:7-11 we find

that Jesus is STILL discussing the subject of judging others. Only
NOW He addresses the need to judge with WISDOM.
1.

In the verses immediately PRECEEDING Matthew 7:7-11

Jesus speaks of the need to avoid HYPOCRITICAL judgment,
but says there ARE TIMES when it becomes necessary for us
to make SOME KIND of judgment.
a.

There are times when we must approach a brother or

sister who may need to be reproved or even rebuked for

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sin in their lives just like Nathan the prophet did with
David, or the apostle Paul did when rebuking Peter.
b.

And there are times when we must exercise discernment,

or judgment, when deciding if reproof or rebuke should be
AVOIDED altogether, such as with some individuals who
may totally REJECT our efforts to encourage them, and
TURN ON US in the process not only mocking that
which is holy, but turning their wrath on us.

2.

No doubt that left questions in the minds of those hearing Jesus

on that occasion wondering how we go about knowing when
and how to approach someone with sin in their lives.

3.

How do we get the wisdom to know how to handle these kinds

of situations?

4.
D.

The answer ASK, SEEK and KNOCK!

James, the Lords brother, offered a similar solution to first-century

Christians who were seeking wisdom in knowing how to deal with
trials and tribulations.
1.

James 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

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2.

But how can we develop the ability to look at trials with JOY,
and how can we be PATIENT during those times, so that we
may grow spiritually?

3.

James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be
given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he
who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the
wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive
anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable
in all his ways."

4.

Therefore, it shouldnt surprise us that Jesus would tell His

hearers that when it comes to exercising the proper WISDOM in
handling discretionary judgment in a POSITIVE way, we should
ASK for wisdom through prayer.

E.

However, the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-11 goes MUCH

DEEPER than merely asking for wisdom in handling issues requiring
judgment.
1.

The central theme in these verses deals with the same theme
regarding pray taught by James prayer that is based solidly
on FAITH, because prayer that is based on a solid foundation of
FAITH is prayer that will be PERSISTENT!

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2.

So, in essence, we could say Jesus is stressing the need for

His disciples to PERSISTENTLY pray prayers of FAITH.

II.

Persistent praying is a common theme throughout the teaching of Jesus.

A.

Luke records an event in the life of Jesus when His disciples asked
Him to teach them how to pray.
1.

The model pray Jesus gave His disciples on this occasion was
the same one He taught in The Sermon on the Mount.
a.

But immediately following that lesson on prayer, Jesus

continues to teach about the need to be persistent in our
prayers.

2.

Luke 11:5-8 And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a

friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend
me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his
journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will
answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now
shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give
to you'? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him
because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will
rise and give him as many as he needs.

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3.

And, immediately following this parable dealing with persistence

in prayer, Jesus said: Luke 11:9-13 "So I say to you, ask,
and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it
will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and
he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he
give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a
serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he
offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

4.

This is the very same thing Jesus taught in The Sermon on the
Mount about the need to be persistent in our prayers.

B.

Luke records another occasion when Jesus taught this same principle
of persistent praying.
1.

At the end of the 17th chapter of Luke, Jesus speaks to His

disciples about the impending destruction of Jerusalem in the
same manner as He did in Matthew chapter 24.
a.

Unfortunately, when the Bible was divided into chapters

and verses, they made a division here where there
shouldnt have been one because Jesus is continuing

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with the same remarks concerning the coming destruction

of Jerusalem.
b.

How are His disciples going to gave the strength to

endure such a terrible, earth-shaking event? Through
persistent prayers of faith.

2.

Luke 18:1-8 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men

always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: "There was in
a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3
Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him,
saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4 And he would
not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I
do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow
troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she
weary me.'" 6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge
said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out
day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell
you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the
Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

3.

The only kind of FAITH that will see us through the kinds of
trials first-century Christians faces is a ROCK-SOLID FAITH
coupled with PERSISTENT PRAYING.

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4.
C.

God WILL answer those prayers!

Therefore, when we go back to Matthew 7:7-11 and look more

closely at the teaching of Jesus there, we find the same principle of
persistent praying being taught.
1.

The words in Matthew 7:7 "ASK, and it will be given to you;

SEEK, and you will find; KNOCK, and it will be opened to you"
are in a tense in the Greek that mean KEEP ON ASKING,
KEEP ON SEEKING, KEEP ON KNOCKING!
a.

It is a tense that implies CONTINUOUS action.

b.

In other words, never let there be a time when we STOP

asking, seeking and knocking!

c.

This is the only kind of prayer that will get results if we

KEEP ON asking, it WILL BE given to us; if we KEEP ON
seeking, we WILL find, and if we KEEP ON knocking, the
door WILL BE opened for us.

2.

However, prayers that are THIS persistent require FAITH and

CONFIDENCE that God WILL respond. So how do we KNOW
God will answer those prayers?
a.

The answer is simple.

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b.

God is OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, and He is more

LOVING and CARING than ANY father we have ever
known on earth.

3.

This is why Jesus continues: Matthew 7:9-12 "Or what man

is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him
a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
good things to those who ask Him!"
a.

This is a classic method used by Jesus to drive home a

point its known as an argument from the LESSER to the
GREATER.

b.

If a loving, caring, compassionate EARTHLY FATHER

(the lesser) will answer our requests for things that are
needful such as food HOW MUCH MORE will our
HEAVENLY FATHER (the greater) give us those things
that are ALSO needful.

4.

Over and over again, the Scriptures teach us that God stands
ready to grant our requests:
a.

John 14:12-14 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who

believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and

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greater works than these he will do, because I go to My

Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will
do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you
ask anything in My name, I will do it."
b.

John 15:5-8 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He

who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not
abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered;
and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and
they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be
done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you
bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

c.

1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have

in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He
hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever
we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have
asked of Him.

5.

While the FIRST TWO passages in John are Jesus promising

His apostles that God will grant them whatever they ask in the

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context of their duties AS apostles, the LAST passage in 1st

John is to YOU AND ME.
a.

1 John 5:14-15 Now this is the CONFIDENCE that we

have in Him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS
WILL, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us,
whatever we ask, we know that we HAVE the petitions
that we have asked of Him.

b.

In other words, if we are asking for something that is in

keeping with GODS WILL not necessarily OUR WILL
we know He not only HEARS US, but we know He will
GIVE US what we are asking for.

c.

We have that CONFIDENCE that ASSURANCE, that

FAITH!

d.

Why? Because our prayers are PERSISTENT, and our

prayers are IN KEEPING WITH HIS WILL, and our
prayers are prayed IN FAITH!

CONCLUSION:
I.

What kind of prayers do you pray?

A.

Are you persistent in your prayers?

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1.

Do you pray knowing that God is your loving Father in heaven

and cares about your needs FAR MORE than any earthly father
ever cared even the best of earthly fathers?

2.

Do you pray with the confidence of know that God will grant
your request as long as it is in keeping with His will?

3.

And how often do you pray for wisdom wisdom to face trials
and tribulations, or the wisdom to know how to approach others
who are in sin and who need to be lovingly confronted?

B.

Prayer is perhaps the most neglected privilege we have as Christians.

1.

We would feel like something was missing if we went through a

worship service without praying.

2.

We would feel uncomfortable if we sat down with other

Christians for a meal without first praying.

3.

But how uncomfortable are we with the fact that we often

neglect prayer in our everyday lives?

C.

Has prayer become a neglected privilege in your life?

1.

If it has, there is Someone waiting to hear from you?

2.

If prayer has been an area of your life youve neglected as a

Christian, then end that neglect now by going to your Father in
heaven, confessing the fact that you have been negligent in

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prayer, and start today to make prayer an important part of your

life every day.
3.

If you feel youre prayers havent been answered because

youve never truly surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your
Lord and Savior, you can solve that problem today as well.

4.

The Lord stands ready to receive you into His kingdom upon
your faith in Jesus Christ, and upon your obedience to the
gospel of Christ.